Refrigerator



Nov. 25, 1930.4

R. E. FRANKLIN REFRIGERATOR Fild Jan. 23. 192s i i sie i Patented Nev. 25,51930 o STATES PATENT OFFICE `RALPH nrieeivxnm, EMiNNEAroLIs, ivrmnnsorlnssmnonon; one-Earn To 'rifrrnenrgxnurson, on ivrINNnAronIs,` MINNESOTA i REFRIGERATOR Alipncau filedfJammy` 23,1928.` semi No.emeas.`

` This` ninventionfrelates to refrigerators or tice boxes and especially lto'- refrigerators designed'for domestic use.

It is an object of my `invention to provide *an extremely simplebuthighly efficient rexfrigerator device or ice box "capable of being manufactured at lowcost and including a `drinking water supply adapted to 'becooled bythe icewithin the refrigerator.

A further obl'ect is to provide a simple ice `boxwherein'fixed shelves and complicated "structure is dispensed with butwherein nevertheless receptacles `containing "food may be conveniently supported andl may` always be f keptcool and atsubstantially the samedisi` tance above the'ice at all times without re- 1 gard to the meltingfof the ice;

Another obfect isto providefa class described'wherein food may be kept `at a `relatively low temperature and wherein `a supply of water may be'kept and cooledwith- `out occupying anylarge amountof the space Y thereinymeans being 'provided for dispens-l 'ng 4cool drinking water: from the front exterior of the frame. e i `A morenspeciiic object"` of the invention is toprovide an ice box whereintheice is sup- `ported on. algrate formedbya coil connected with a:l drinking waterreservoir andfwherein the supports for the foodarefvertieaglly slid able within the walls of thefdev'ice thus beying horizontallymaintained at substantially "the same distanceabove the ice' at all times."

These andotlierv objects and*advantagesi of the invention will be apparent fronilthe following description made in connectionwith the accompanying drawings whereinlilrefref ference 'characters refer tonjlsimilar parts throughout the'several views, and uinvvhich `Fig.`1 is a vertical sectionof, an embodi e ment of my invention taken on Aa line inter- ?secting'the frontand'rear sides ofthe de-: \v1ce; w f Qis` a vertical sectionftaken on theline 2-'2 ofFig. 1; L Figi'isa cross vli`i`gn1andf; im .I .Y y

Fig. lf's'a plan view `of the food supporting ""ra'clrdetached f section ontlie line of device'ofthe Vspaced from the bottom 7 bymeans of depend tain and support Vsaid reservoir withits rearL the vsides `8 and thefrent 9 havingV a relatively `of my inventionisvillustrated comprising a Vrectangular box-like frame,`which maybe formed from wood or sheetmetal having the vertical .back 5; the top 6,"thebott01nf7 de- `elined fromits back edge to its. front edge,n55 p largeA "door openingQ formed therein, Vfas shown said door opening extending substantially Vthe full width of the front and from a point adjacent the top of the box to Va point at some height above the bottom. `The frame describedmav be mounted on a plu ralityiof relatively short legs 10 which may `be of angle iron construction if desired. Asuitable door 11 provided with inturnedfver--r ticalf-langes 11? andv 11D may' be vhingedfto fino one ofthe sides "18 ofthe-box uframeyto` close e the dooropening 92 Vsaid hinge "connectionv .preferably being "made -withsaid `door at the flange1\1"`*,`Y andflange' lllibeing curve'dM to Vfrictionally' engagethe edge ofthe opposite 4 side 8 to retainthe door` in closedposition. "Vithin thezlower portionof thebox yframe I provide a substantially horizontal support 12 ing legsf12a7fwhich` rest upon" said;` bottom. The central portion of support 129is prefer-` ably concave and provided with a central ap? erturey12" vthroughwhich water fromithe e melting ice above may pass] into the drain -chamberfbetween'bottom 7 and" support 12.

relatively narrow `slotis formed in thetop 6 ofthe `box frame adjacenttherear edge thereof extending substantiallythe full width I thereof toi accommodate the `water reservoir $635 i 13 of similar "cross ,sectional shape.;Water reservoir 13 .carries at its upper endlanout.- wardlywprojecting flange 13;* adapted to engage' "the edgesoftop 6 about said slottoreside `disposed substantially `flush Vagainst the endof `the wateitankfis connected by a suitable fitting 14 Ato a fiatcoill horizontallyfdis-` posed and supported onl the partition orsup- .e port 12, said coil preferably .coveringwsaid y #50 I-nsthefdrawings,a-lpreferred embodiment the ice. The forward extremity of coil 15 projects forwardly through the front of the box-like casing and below the door opening 9a being connected with a suitable spigot or faucet 16. A drain cock 17 may be connected with the forward lower portion of the drain chamber above bottom 7.

A cake'of ice I, is adapted to be supported on the grate formed by coil 15 and articles of food or receptacles containing the same are supported in a box-like rack R, which is slidably disposed within the box-like casing or frame. Rack R may comprise a plurality of horizontal spaced grates or shelves 18 secured together in spaced relation by vertical rods or other suitable upright members 19. The width and length of rack R are slightly less than the cross sectional dimensions of the box-like casing in order that said rack may rest upon the ice and fit within the casing with the several shelves 18 disposed in horizontal position, the height of said rack and shape thereof preventing tilting thereof as the ice melts, gravity causing said rack to always be supported upon the top of the ice with the shelves 18 disposed substantially the same distance above the ice regardless of the size of the cake within the box. Rack R is of such height that ample clearance will be left when a large cake of ice is used between the top of the rack and the top 6 ofthe box.

In order that the rackR may be temporarily held suspended from adjacent the'top of the box, while a cake of ice is placed within the box, suitable means may be provided connected with the top 6 and as shown I may provide a hinged hook 2O adapted to engage one of the bars of the upper grate or shelf 18 of the rack to hold the same adjacent the top of the boxV when desired.

I prefer to provide my rack adjacent one corner thereof for holding relatively high receptacles, such as milk bottles and the like and this may be done by forming cut out portions as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 in the upper two shelves 18, the shelf next to the bottom acting as a support and milk receptacles being inserted from the front edge of the rack. As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, dishes, articles of food, etc., may be disposed on the shelves.

To insert ice in the refrigerator it is only necessary to slide the rack R upwardly to a height where hook 20 may be engaged with one of the bars of the upper shelf or grate of the rack. The ice may then be inserted into the box and supported on the coil 15.V The construction of this flat coil will prevent the ice from slipping and damaging the water ltank 18 disposed in the rear of the casing.

Tank 13 may easily be filled by removing the plug 13b at its upper end and if it is desired to remove t-he tank for repair or for cleaning, l

fitting 14 may be disengaged and the tank may be lifted vertically from the Casing.

Likewise, the coil may be removed after the spigot 16 has been disengaged.

After the box has been filled with ice rack R may be disengaged from hook 2O and will rest upon the top of the ice maintaining the various shelves 18 always at the same height above the top of the ice within the box. As the ice melts the rack will slide downwardly due to gravity, the box-like formation of the rack in slidable engagement with the interior of the casing preventing the rack from tilting regardless of its height in the refrigerator or regardless of the shape of the upper surface of the ice.

It will be apparent that the water passing through coil 15 will be thoroughly chilled by the ice supported thereupon and an adequate supply of cool drinking water is thus maintained.

The support 12 is provided with legs 12CL resting on the bottom 7 of the'casing and may be easily removed-through the door opening 9 when the ice box is empty and when coil 15 is first removed. The space between support 12 and the bottom of the casing constitutes a chamber to receive drainage water and the water accumulating therein may be easily removed by manipulating the drain cock 17.

Rack Ris disposed with the cut out portions of the upper two grates or shelves positioned forwardly with respect to the casing whereby milkbottles or other tall receptacles can Vbe conveniently carried without interfering with the top of the casing. The food willalways be kept cool due to the fact that it is positioned at all times directly above the ice and the receptacles containing the same Y will never be displaced by the vertical movement of the rack.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have invented, an extremely simple but highly efficient ice 'box and water cooler capable of being manufactured at low cost and especially adapted for use in small` apartmentsand homes.

It will; of course, be understood that various changes may bemadelin the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimedr is:

1. Inr'efrigerator structure, a box-like casing having vertical sides, a top and a door in `adapted to slidably engage the vertical sides of said casing and the inner vertical side of said water reservoir.

2. In refrigerator structure, acasing hav- Y ing verticalsides and corners, and a door in one of the sides thereof covering in height a substantial portion of said side,'a horizontal support within the lower portion of said casing adapted to receive and support a Chunk of ice, and a rectangular box-shaped food support adapted to rest upon and be supported by ice upon said ice support, said food support comprising vertical corner members and horizontal shelves secured to said corner members, one of said shelves `being adapted to engage the ice, said corner members slidably engaging theV corners of said casing,r whereby qsaid food support may slide smoothly within said casing during the melting of the ice with said shelves always disposed horizontally.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. t RALPH E. FRANKLIN. 

